Nipple-shield



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAS. PARKER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

NIPPLE-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,396, dated January 13, 1857.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PARKER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invenrted an Improved Nipple-Shield; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1, denotes a front view of one of my new nipple shields, to be worn by a fei male after lactation, and for the purpose of protecting the nipple. Fig. 2, a transverse section of it. Y

The common nipple shield, as ordinarily constructed is made as a conical cap to cover the entire nipple both on its sides and front end, a small hole being generally made in the cap to allow air to pass into the shield.

In constructing my improved shield, I make its cap, A, that projects from the base plate B, tubular and with the front end entirely open as seen at, a, the shield being made of glass or any other proper material.

When so made, the covering of the nipple extends only around the sides and not in front of the nipple. Thus, while the nipple is perfectly shielded from being injured by the dress of the wearer, the air has a chance to freely come in contact with it and the milk which exudes from it is not obstructed so as to become dried and caked around the nipple so as to irritate it. It can freely run out of the front end of the shield. The article as made in the improved manner as above described is far superior to the ordinary nipple cap and much more comfortable to the wearer.

I do not claim a nipple shield so constructed that, when worn 0n the breast of a person, it will entirely cover the nipple thereof; nor do I claim one made with a small air hole in its front end or that part covering the end of the nipple, but

What I do claim is- My improved nipple shield 'constructed with a tubular cap as described, viz, one which shall only encompass the nipple on its sides, and not cover the front or end thereof, the whole front of the nipple guard being open as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this eighteenth day of N ovember A. D. 1856.

J AME S PARKER.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

